Courtney calls for tax reform, says another BRAC unlikely

Comprehensive tax reform and additional spending on education and infrastructure would do the most to spur economic growth, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, told a Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut breakfast crowd on Monday.

Comprehensive tax reform and additional spending on education and infrastructure would do the most to spur economic growth, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, told a Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut breakfast crowd on Monday.

Tax reform is quietly being worked on in congressional bodies, including the House Ways and Means Committee, he said.

In responding to audience statements about making businesses responsible for collecting taxes on sales made over the Internet, something state Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, said would help local brick-and-mortar businesses, Courtney said U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, wants to look at the Internet tax idea as part of a broader tax plan.

The White House has asked Congress to authorize a new round of military base closures beginning in 2015, but It is unlikely such a request will be approved, Courtney said during the breakfast held at Latitude 41 Restaurant at Mystic Seaport. He called for the Pentagon to consider closing 300 bases throughout Europe before targeting domestic facilities such as the Navy’s Groton submarine station. A Base Closure and Realignment carried out in 2005 won’t show net savings until 2018, Courtney noted.

“People think there are more savings to be gained from BRAC than they’re really are,” Courtney said. “Truth is, they’re expensive.”

Sequestration, a portion of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that cuts $1.2 trillion in spending over 10 years, continues to have negative effects in Connecticut and nationally, although Electric Boat Corp.’s submarine construction and repair business have not lost any contracts because of the measure, Courtney said. Sequestration took effect March 1.

“Everything is not fine with sequestration, and Congress needs to fix this,” he said.

The U.S. Senate’s 60-vote rule to cut off debate is being extended to cabinet appointments and preventing Gina McCarthy, a former Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, from being confirmed as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Courtney said.

“This is a very disturbing trend,” the congressman said. “Gina deserves to have a vote.”

State Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, introduced Courtney and later asked the congressman how the U.S. government could accomplish more and avoid “gridlock.” Courtney called upon citizens to write letters and employ other pressure devices.

“We need to put our big-boy pants on and do it,” he said. “Show us real-life examples of harm.”

The nation’s economy is improving, and Democrats and Republicans should unite to speed it along, Courtney said. President Obama is not as good at courting Republicans as some past Democratic presidents have been, the congressman said.